While Nokia still shipped 500,000 Symbian handsets in the first quarter of this year, it seems to be over the ageing OS. Sure, it's taken a while for its Windows Phone handsets to gain traction, but the processes involved in developing for the platform is, apparently, worth the move. A Nokia spokesperson explained:

“It took 22 months to get a Symbian phone out of the door. With Windows Phone, it is less than a year. We spend less time having to tinker with deep-lying code and more time on crafting elements of the experience that make a big difference, such as around photography, maps, music and apps in general."

It's almost certainly the right decision for Nokia. But that shouldn't stop us shedding a tear at the departure of an OS that powered the likes of the sliding N95 and the BlackBerry-alike E71. Symbian, in your own special way, you'll be missed. [Financial Times via WM Power User]